Television antenna



Jan. 8, 1957 D. E. SHI-:TRON

TELEVISION ANTENNA 2 she'ets-sheet 1 Filed oct. 50, 1952 a j DM/245 n/Crow,

' Jan. 8, 1957 D. E. sHETRoN 2,777,123

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed ocx. so, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VENTOR TELEVISION `ANTENNA David v4E- Shetron, .Ereedom Pa.

Application October 350, 1952,"Sc`rial No. 317,693 Achims. (.C'L .34a-804) -'My invention relates broadly to antennas and more particularly to an improved fantenna for lthe reception of frequencyv and Aultra-high frequency :signaling energy capable `o'f operation over widefrequency bands.

.One 'of `the .objects of .my invention is `to provide an improved construction of antenna which is readily erect- .able by the user without any special skill or 'knowledge Iof .the theory involved.

Another object of myinvention is to provide an improved antenna arrangement which is lvery ysturdy lin its .construction and reliable in operation and not subject -to mechanical breakdown under various lconditions of weather which may be encountered in exterior installa tions of the antenna.

vStill another kobject of my invention is to provide a construction `of high frequency and ultra-'high frequency antenna which may 'be readily increased or decreased in effective capacity by adding or removing antenna elements, which may be accomplished with the use of readily available tools.

'Still another object -of my invention is to provide an arrangement of insulated support for a multiple antenna structure which is readily `oriented to -a position in which the directive properties ofthe antenna may be utilized with maximum ,efficiency `for the reception of 'high frequency and .ultra-'high frequency signalling energy lin the lfrequency modulated :and television bands.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of antenna particularly adapted for the reception of frequency modulated and television signals which includes a pair of spaced parallel extending insulated supports, `each supporting fa bus, `which serve as connecting means for `any desired number of antenna y United Safe Patenti@ elements extending ,transversely of the buses, oneV of the f antennaelements being formed yas av doublet for providing electrical 4connections to the receiving'apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to .provide a construction of high frequency antenna constituted by a multiplicity .of ,capacity members which may be readily increased in number to meet Ireceiving conditions in different geographical locations and provide maximum eciency in signal reception.

Still another object `of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple section antenna readily adapted for interior installation andelcctricaliy Aconnected' through a coaxial ,cable or transmission'line with the input circuit of ,a high frequency receiving apparatus, the receiving structure being readilyportable in character and movable yfrom place to place with the receiving apparatus.

Still another object .of my 4invention is to provide a construction of high frequency antenna formed by multiple antenna elements grouped inv separate antenna structures which may be electrically connected for rriultiplel operation with a'high frequency receiver, where the individual groups of antenna element'sjinay be readily oriented to positions for directively receiving high frquency signaling energy with maximum efficiency.'-

Still another. object of my invention Vis" to provide a con- 2,777,123 Patented Jan. s, los? rice struction of multiple section antenna which may be readily shipped in knocked-down arrangement and 'the parts-interlitted and-assembled at the installation location .in avery yconvenient 'and simple manner, the balancing 'elementsand thedoubletconnecting element being readily Ymounted on Athe insulation support and carrier for the antenna of my invention in completing the assembly.

Other and further objects of my invention is to provide a'structure ofhigh 'frequency antenna formed by multiple sections readily applicable to the antenna structure for increasing the capacity thereof 'as set forth more fully in the specification Ihereinafter following, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

vFigure l is -a side elevational view of the improved antenna structure of -my invention lillustrating a doublet connecting element and `four antenna elements; Fig. 2 is a ltop plan View of the antenna structure illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. '3 is an end View of the antenna structure looking in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an fendview of the antenna structure looking in the direction of -arrow B `of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a theoretical diagram showing the velectrical circuit connections of the multiplev ysection antenna with a vtelevision receiver; Fig. 6 illustrates the manner lof connecting groups of antenna structures of `the type illustrated in Figs. 1 5 to the input of ya television receiver where each of the antenna structures is individually and 4selectively orientatable to positions for the directive reception of high frequency energy for operation of a vhigh frequency receiving apparatus with maximum efliciency; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an antenna structure embodying my invention andillustrat ing particularly the manner in which individual antenna elements may bel initially omitted lfrom the antenna structure and added to lthe antenna structure as requirements for more ellcient reception may demand; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the antenna elements employed in the structure of my invention; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the doublet element forming the output terminals vfor the antenna for electrical connection to the high frequency receiver; Fig. l0 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of detachably supporting the buses on the bars of insulation material; Fig. l1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line lll-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. l2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner of detachably securing the transverse member to the supporting bars of insulation material; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary end elevational view with parts broken away and illustrated in section, showing the manner of assembling the antenna elements with respect to the buses; and Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View partially in plan, showing the manner of establishing output connection from the antenna to the high frequency receiving apparatus.

My invention is directed to a multiple-section high frequency and ultra-highfrequency antenna which I have developed and successfully operated over the entire frequency spectrum now allocated by the Federal Communications Commission for frequency modulation operation (F. M very high frequency operation (V. H. E); ultra-high frequency operation (U. H. F.) and the television spectrum. In my location at Freedom, Pennsylvania, I have successfully received television signals giving clearpictures on channel 2 from Detroit, approximately 2'00 miles distant; channel 4 from Cleveland, 90 miles distant, the reception including both television and frequency modulation. Comparable distance reception has been successfully accomplished using the structure of my 'invention in other areas.

Very decided advantages have been found toresult in the use of the antenna of my invention, asl compared to cnventional'-types o f antennassuch as the 'typical indoor antenna of the V-type generally referred to as rabbit arreglos ears; conventional dipole antennas for exterior use; the folded dipole used for exterior installation; the Yagi antenna for exterior installation, using both a reflector and director; and multiple stack horizontal and vertical V antennas, employing both reectors and directors for exterior installation. The `antenna of my invention has proven superior to all of these conventional types of antennas with the added advantage that the antenna of my invention may be installed interiorly or exteriorly within the attic or on the roof of a dwelling and connected through a transmission line or coaxial cable with the high trequency receiving apparatus. inasmuch as the doublet connecting element and the antenna elements are all readily assembled on the insulated support forming the mounting means for the antenna, no special skill is required in completing the antenna installation so that the set owner may readily malte the antenna installation. The insulated support for the antenna of my invention may be mounted, for example, in the attic of a dwelling and the doublet connecting element connected through a transmission line or coaxial cable that extends from the doublet connecting clement outwardly through the attic Window and extends downwardly exteriorly of the dwelling and enters through a window to the receiving set location which may be a living room, for example. All of this is accomplished very simply and without the mechanical installation problems arising with roof installations and which have heretofore proven so hazardous with respect to destruction and tire during lightning storms and loss of the antenna during wind and ice conditions.

Moreover, the antenna structure of my invention being readily portable may be moved with the receiving apparatus from one location to another avoiding the disassembly, er erection, problems and costs incidental to conventional exterior root installations. Furthermore, in certain television receiving set installations, the antenna of my invention may be built in and form a part of the television receiver, thereby rendering the television receiver completely portable and useful in any location under various conditions.

The multiple antenna of my invention may be conveniently shipped in knocked-down form and the parts assembled at the location of installation by the use of a minimum number of tools such as a screw driver and n pair of pliers for quickly accomplishing the assembly and installation.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference characters l. and 2 indicate a pair of horizontally extending pairs of insulation material which are secured in spaced substantially parallel positions by means of a transverse member designated at 3, the transverse member having a centrally disposed T-shaped section 4 therein serving as a support for the vertically extending standard E on which the antenna structure is vertically mounted.

The antenna structure may be oriented about standard S to secure the desired directive elects of the antenna balancing elements and doublet connecting element. The horizontally extending bars of insulation material 1 and 2 are secured at the opposite ends of the transverse member 3 which may be screw threaded to engage internal screw threads formed in bars 1 and 2 and which may also be pinned in position by means of screws represented at 3a, for example, and which extend through the edgewise dimension of bars 1 and 2 and are countersunk therein and pin the opposite ends of transverse member 3 in position. This assembly is readily effected by the installer who simply secures the bars 1 and 2 on opposite ends of transverse member 3 so that a rigid frame is provided. Along the upper edges of the bars 1 and 2, I secure linearly extending buses 6 and 7. These buses may be formed from electrically conductive tubular material secured at opposite ends by bolts shown at 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b, the buses being spaced above the upper edges of the bars 1 and 2 by insulated washers 6a', 6b', 7a and 7b. The bolt members 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b pass through the buses 6 and 7, respectively, and through the bars 1 and 2 and are secured in position by fastening nuts 6a", 6b, 7a" and 7b". This assembly is readily accomplished by the installer as it simply requires an operation with the screw driver and pliers. l

The buses 6 and 7, after having been secured in position, serve as a mounting means for the doublet connecting element of the antenna shown more particularly in Fig. 9 as comprising a pair of conductive substantially U-shaped tubular members 8 and 9 having their depending ends secured in position on the buses 6 and 7 by means of bolts 3a, 8b, 9a and 9b, respectively. The nuts securing these bolts which pass through the buses 6 and 7 are shown at 8a', 8b', 9a and 9b on the interior sides of the buses 6 and 7, respectively. The substantially U- shaped inverted members 8 and 9 serve as supports for the doublets shown at 10 and 11 fastened to members 8 and 9 by bolts 10a and 11a, respectively, and directed toward each other across the top of U-shaped members 8 and 9 and` terminating in spacial relation at their ends 12, A panel of insulation material extends between the spaced ends of the doublets 10 and 11 and is fastened to the aligned ends thereof by bolts 10b and 11b, respectively. The insulated panel 14 and the aligned ends of doublets l0 and 11 also serve as supporting means for terminal posts 10c and 11e from which electrical connections 15 and tti extend and which provide the connecting means for the transmission line or coaxial cable 17 represented in Figs. l5 and 6. All of the bolt members and their associated fastening nuts are readily attachable and detachable, enabling the doublet connecting element to be readily assembled, .Having assembled the doublet connecting clcment on the buses 6 and 7, the antenna elements may now be assembled in position in accordance with thc number desired.

ln Figs. l and 2 I have indicated the addition of four antenna elements shown at 18, 19, 20 and 21. The antenna elements are each constituted by inverted U- shaped members of a construction identical with the coni struction of U-shaped members 8 and 9, and for purpose of illustration I have represented the rst aligned set of U-shaped members at 18a and 18h detachably fastened to the buses 6 and 7 in a manner similar to the attachment of members 3 and 9 with the said buses. The

inverted U-shaped members 18a and 18h form supports i for the horizontal connector 22 which, is secured at opposite ends at 22a and 22h to the upper ends of the inverted U-shaped members 18a and 18h. Similarly antenna element 19 is applied to the buses 6 and 7 by attachment of the inverted U-shaped members 19a and 191i to the buses 6 and 7 by detachable connecting means in a manner similar to the fastening means 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b heretofore described, A horizontal connector 23 is detachably fastened acrossthe tops of inverted U-shaped members 19a and 19h by connections at positions 23u and 23h in a manner similar `to the detachable connections explained with reference to antenna element 13. Similarly the antenna element 20 has a horizontal con nector 24 connected at positions 24a and 2412 at the tops of the inverted U-shaped members 20a and 20b which fasten to the buses 6 and 7, respectively.

In many instances the antenna elements 18, 19, and 20 are sufficient for response to the frequency band over which the antenna must operate, and adequate capacity is provided by the antenna elements heretofore explained and shown in installed position, for example, in Fig, 7. However, where the frequency range is to be extended and the capacity of the antenna increased, the antenna element 21, shown more particularly in Fig. 8, is added to the antenna structure as shown, for example, in Fig. 7. The antenna element 21 includes the horizontally extending connector 25 which is secured in position over the tops of the inverted U-shaped members 21a and 2lb at the positions 25a and 25h. With this addition to the antenna system, the frequency range `,and the capacity value are increased. Each antenna element constitutes inductance as well as capacity and is added to the capacity and inductance value of the antenna element already installed.

As shown in Fig. the coaxial cable or transmission line 17 connects to the input of the television receiver or the frequency modulated receiver or to the high frequency, very high frequency or ultra-high frequency device shown at 26. After testing of the receiving system, the need for additional antenna elements often becomes apparent and the additional antenna elements may then be added. While I have indicated space for four antenna elements, it will be readily apparent that by elongating the bar members 1 and 2, adequate space may be provided for the installation of additional antenna elements. If, however, all of the antenna elements have been added to the antenna structure that the structure will properly support, an -additional antenna, or antennas, may be employed as represented, for example, in Fig. 6. In this arrangement I have shown ve separate antenna structures at 27, 28, 29, and 31, each similar to the antenna structure already explained.

In Fig. 6 the separate antenna structures are mounted for individual orientation about the vertical standards 27a, 28a, 29a, 30a and 31a so that the structures may be selectively oriented in planes which will provide for the most efficient reception at the high frequencies, very high frequencies or ultra-high frequencies receiver 26. Flexible leads extend at 2711, 28b, 29b, 30b and 3117 from the antennas to the transmission line 17, connecting the several antennas not parallel to the input of the receiving apparatus 26. The-antennas may be mounted interiorly of the attic of a building, for example, and the transmission line 17 extended for a substantial distance to the receiver located on a lower oor, for example, and the conjoint eiects of the several antennas impressed upon the receiver. By this composite action of several directively oriented antennas of the construction herein described, I have secured highly efficient results in television reception, both as to distance and clarity of the reproduced images, with elimination of ghost and snow interference.

Each of the antennas is approximately 36 inches in width between the bars 1 and 2, and the inverted U- shaped members extend to a height of approximately 18 inches. The U-shaped members have their sides spaced approximately 21/2 inches, and the U-shaped members are separated along the bars of insulation material 1 and 2 approximately 3 inches. fore being bent to shape is approximately inches in length. The U-shaped members and the horizontal connecting bars are formed from hollow tubular material such as outside diameter tubing. The buses 6 and 7 may be formed from similar material.

While I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made, and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. An antenna structure of knocked-down and erectab'le type comprising a T-shaped support, bars of insulation material attachable and detachable to the ends of said T-shaped supp'ont |and extending in substantially parallel spaced planes, Iattachable and detachabie electrical buses supponted on said bars in spaced relation Ithereto, antenna elements comprising inverted U-shaped members attachable fand detachable at their open extremities to said buses and erectable in substantially coplan-ar relation extending above each of said buses, a transverse bus interconnecting -tbe closed extremities of the inverted U-shaped members in a position substantially midway of the spaced Each U-shaped member beo side portions of the inverted U-shaped members and a doublet connecting clement disposed adjacent Ithe 'aforesaid antenna element, said doublet connecting element comprising similarly termed inverted U-shaped members detachabiy connected with said buses and a doublet connecting element electrically ldetachably connected with the closed extremities of said inst-mentioned inverted U- shaped members and [forming output terminals for said antenna, said last-mentioned U-shaped members extending in planes coplanar `with the planes of the Iiirst mentioned U-sh-aped members, said U-sfhaped members formi-ng :an assembly constituting la substantially box-:like structure in peripheral contour.

2. -An antenna comprising a base structure including la pair of spaced bars of insulation material, means for orientatably supporting said bars in spaced substantially parallel positions, buses of Ielectrically conductive material detachably supported by said bars, Iantenna elements consisting of inverted U-sh'aped electrically conductive members |having substantially parallel sides Iterminating in llower extremities ydetaclhalbly connected with said buses at spaced .positions rthereon, the upper extremities Iof said inverted U-shaped members being centrally iapertured and ra |lineally extending electrically conductive member extending between the upper extremities of said invented U-shaped members, fastening means extending through fthe opposite extremities yof said llinea-lly extending electrically conductive member and through the apertures in the upper extremities of said inverted U-.shaped members for detachabily securing the said transversely extend-ing conductive member to said inverted U- shaped members and means detachabiy electrically connecting the upper extremities of `others of said inverted U-sh'aped members `and forming output Iterminals for said antenna, said U-shaped members being .substantially coplanar at each side of said antenna, and forming la substantially box-like :assembly in peripheral contour.

A3. An antenna comprising a base structure of insula- Ition material including a pair of spaced substantially panallel extending bars, electrically conductive buses mounted on said bars, :a doublet connecting element extending between said buses adjacent the spaced ends of said bars, said doublets each including a pair of antenna elements -formed by inverted U-shaped members detachably connected at their closed extremities 'through a iineal element land means for detachably connecting the open extrem-ities of said inverted U-shape-d members in ispaced positions along said electrically conductive buses, iwith the sides of said U-shaped members dispo-sed substantially .coplanar over said buses, and constitu-ting :a substantially box-like assembly in peripheral contour.

4. An antenna as set forth in claim j3 in lwhich said inverted U-shaped members :are detachably connected at their iower extremities with said buses, and said ilineazl elem-ents are fastened rat the closed extremities of the inverted Usshaped members by idet-achabie bolts, said iineal elements extending toward each other in positions terminating in spaced relation, a panel of insulation ma- -terial interconnecting lthe spaced ends of said lineal elements in za position centrally of said Iantenna structure land supported thereby land terminal connections carried by the spaced ends of said Ilineal elements and said panel struct-ure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,199,050 Jenkins .1 Apr. 30, `1940 2,283,914 Carter May 26, A1942 2,576,748 Carmichael Nov. 27, y'195.11

OTHER REFERENCES CQ, February |1946, pages 25 and 26. 

